Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

~~~~~ Kylie – How can something so wrong feel so right? ~~~~~

Kylie had been nothing but miserable the last couple days. When they got to the detection center, they said that visiting hours were over so they could not see Alex. When Kylie had a chance to see her, Alex somehow managed to get in trouble which meant that no one could visit her, not even Mike nor Rachael or even Cassandra who was her social worker for crying out loud.

Kylie was sick of it. She was sick of feeling hopeless. She was sick of having all the love she felt for the girl and not being able to express it or even tell her. Kylie wanted nothing but to tell Alex that she was in love with her. She wanted to scream it to the world.

But no. Kylie had to keep quiet. Whether she liked it or not, she has a reputation to hold. Something like this will destroy everything she has tried so hard to maintain. This will tear everything apart. So she has to keep quiet. She has to keep this to herself. The only way to handle this is to bottle up her feelings and enclose them tightly, just like she’s always done. This is nothing new to her. She’s used to hiding under the happy cheerleader with the perfect life facade.

“How about Tristan? He’s one of the best baseball players in the district.” Pamela said pointing at a guy sitting in a table with his friends eating his lunch. Kylie looked over at him and smiled once he saw her. She turned back to the girls and shook her head which caused the girl to groan and whine. Kylie looked at her teammates and laughed. They had been searching for the perfect guy for Kylie ever since she broke it off with Anthony. Little did they know that Kylie had already found the perfect person: Alexandria Santiago.

“Guys! How about you let me worry about my personal life, and instead just focus on the fact that we don’t have a theme for the party.” Kylie said frustrated. The girls nodded deciding to drop it and went straight to work. The party was in a few days and they still couldn’t decide on which theme to choose.

When lunch was over Kylie went to her last classes of the day. She sat alone wishing Alex were there with her. She closed her eyes and imagined the girls presence but then opened her eyes and noticed her absence. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks.

The bell rang indicating yet another end to a boring school day without Alex. Kylie went to her locker to get her purse and her math textbook. The locker had been fixed when the custodian saw the damaged locker and reported it. Kylie had to take her stuff out of Alex’s locker and put it into her own locker. Kylie hated the idea of not sharing a locker with Alex but she did it anyway. No one found out she was sharing a locker with Alex. If the news would have gotten out, Kylie would have been on the mouths of everyone. A junior talking to a freshman, and not just a junior but the captain of the cheer-leading team, was unacceptable. This of course scared Kylie the most; the talks. She hated when her teammates gossiped, she just couldn’t take it if their gossip was about her.

She closed her locker and shook her head erasing all her thoughts. Rachael was outside waiting for Kylie when she got outside. “Hey Kylie how was school?” Rachael asked trying to get a word out of Kylie. Kylie looked up and gave Rachael a half smile and answered a faint fine. She had been quiet throughout the entire ride only looking out the window or the floor. Understanding that Kylie did not wish to speak, Rachael stopped asking questions and drove in silence.

It astounded Kylie how much she actually missed the girl. She doesn’t eat. She doesn’t sleep well. She can’t concentrate in class or in cheer practices. Her life is a mess without the girl, but why? Why does Alex mean so much if they have only met and shared nothing but days with here?

When arriving at the flower shop, Kylie left her stuff inside the car and headed for the door. Rachael quickly followed her and locked the car behind them. Kylie grabbed her apron from the hanger and put it on starting her shift releasing the previous worker. Rachael smiled at her as she put the apron up and got ready to leave.

Once the worker left a few costumers came in as Kylie was finishing tying her apron so she put on a smile and went to help them. They started to look around already arguing on which flowers to choose. The customers included a man and woman trying to calm the kids down and 2 teens, probably Kylie’s age, watching the scene in horror. Rachael went straight to work on some paperwork she had not finished and left Kylie to deal with the costumers. Kylie was good at her job. It’s as if she was sent especially for Rachael.

“Welcome to Rachael’s flower shop, is there something in particular I can help you with?” Kylie left her personal life outside the door and focused on her job every time she entered the flower shop. She forgot about Alex for a few moments every day. She forgot about her mother calling her every five minutes trying to convince her to come home. She forgot about how much she misses her little brother and stopped worrying if he did his homework or not. She forgot about her problems and focused on trying to solve others problems for at least 5 hours a day .

The costumers begin to tell Kylie what they were looking for and explained how they wanted the arrangement. “The only problem I see is the flowers chosen. If you want a get well soon arrangement then having these specific flowers tells the person “die already”. What you guys need are these and these.” Kylie went to the front of the store and picked up orange flowers with various other flowers and put them together since the flowers the family had chosen were terrible. The customers smiled in awe as she held the flowers in her hands and showed them.

“That is exactly what aunt Karen would love. She loves all those colors and the smell will certainly help her heal faster.” the man thanked Kylie and grabbed the vase from her hands. The arrangement had taken no more than 15 minutes to make. Kylie put the flowers in a vase, did a creative bow in the front and even added a get well soon touch to the arrangement. The man handed the arrangement to the woman standing next to him and took out his wallet. Kylie smiled at pointed to Rachael who was working the cash register. The men nodded his head and walked up to Rachael.

“That will be a total of $89.87.” Rachael said pressing the screen. The cash door opened letting Rachael give the man his change.

“This is for you.” the man said approaching Kylie and handing her a one hundred dollar bill. Kylie gasped and gave the bill back to the man.

“You’ve earn it. You know how many stores we’ve been to trying to find the perfect arrangement? And then we come here and you make it in less than 10 minutes? It’s the least I can do.” the man tried to put the bill in Kylie’s hands again but Kylie refused.

“Please sir, I really just did my job. You already paid for the arrangement.” Kylie tried to walk away but the man walked up to her, put the bill inside one of her pockets, and turned around.

“Family run!” the man commended to everyone. Kylie took the bill out her pocket but when looking up the man was closing the door as his family laughed and ran away. Kylie watched as the bells moved back and forth in shock. The man had given her one hundred dollars. Who does that?

“What do you think you are doing?” Rachael asked as Kylie opened the cash register and put the bill inside. When Kylie was about to close the drawer Rachael stepped in the middle and put the bill back in Kylie’s hand.

“Rachael please I did not earn this. The man was crazy or on drugs. Who gives a stranger one hundred dollars for doing their Job?” Kylie sighted and put the bill inside her apron. Rachael shrugged and went back to arranging some flowers into a small vase. The arrangement was unlike anything Kylie had ever seen. She had no idea how Rachael could do works of art with simply three roses.

The next couple hours were slow. Kylie looked at Rachael but she was looking over some paperwork. She sighted and went to arrange the mess one of the customers left with the roses.

The red roses were mixed with the white. The blue roses were mixed with the yellow. The orange roses were everywhere Kylie looked. She picked one single orange rose and brought it to her nose.

Inhaling the smell and closing her eyes took her to when she met the girl. Kylie smiled as she saw the girls face in her mind with her dimples fully expressed. She couldn’t help but laugh at her jealousy towards the waitress when taking Alex to lunch. And when remembering the bathroom scene, Kylie was blushing like crazy. But she couldn’t help it, to Kylie, Alex belonged to her. She loves the girl more than anything in the world.

“I love you, Alexandria Santiago.” Kylie whispers as she kisses the rose. If only she had the guts to tell Alex.

If only Alex felt the same…

This caused Kylie to let go of the rose. The thought had never occurred to her. What ifAlex didn’t feel the same? She was about to kiss Ismael in the cafeteria a few days ago. Kylie shook her head and bent down to pick the rose up. This was not the time to be thinking this.

Something happened inside Kylie the moment she touched the orange rose. She felt sick to her stomach and could not breathe for a second. Kylie held her stomach and sucked in a deep breath. Rachael dropped the papers in her hands and hurried to Kylie.

“Kylie what’s wrong?” Rachael asked helping her up. Kylie closed her eyes and took another deep breath, not knowing the answer to the question.

The feeling was unexplainable. Kylie knew something was wrong. Something is terribly wrong. “Alex.” She breathed looking at Rachael. Rachael put her palm of her hand on Kylie’s forehead and frowned. Nothing was wrong with Kylie. She did not have a fever or anything of the sort, she was in perfect condition.

Kylie clenched her stomach again and a tear fell from her eyes. Alex was in danger. Kylie felt it. Even Rachael felt it.

The ringing from Rachael’s phone brought both their attention on the light coming from Rachael’s apron pocket. Rachael looked at Kylie and then at the phone. After one more ring she let go of Kylie and answered the call.

Kylie held her breath wishing with all her might that it was not bad news, but she knew otherwise. She felt it, something bad has happened.

“Hello?” Rachael answered in a shaky voice. Kylie straightens out and tries to listen to the conversation. “Yes this is Rachael Smith.” Rachael’s eyebrows came together in confusion and then the expected happened. “What hospital?” Rachael asked already running to get her keys and purse. Kylie followed behind her arming the alarm.

“She’s at St. Joseph. They wouldn’t tell me any details. I have to call Mike.” Rachael talked fast and lost control of her emotions. Kylie stopped Rachael in the doorway and put her hands on her shoulders.

“Everything is going to be OK. Alex is going to be OK. Nothing is going to happen to her.” Kylie didn’t know whether she was trying to convince Rachael or herself. All she knew was that nothing was going to happen to her girl. Nothing was going to happen to her girl…

The drive was dead quiet. Neither Rachael nor Kylie wanted to say anything. Both were still in shock that they felt almost the same thing. Both could not believe that they had been right.

Once again Rachael’s phone rang. This time Rachael answered it without hesitation since the caller id indicated that Mike was calling. “Mike thank God!” She breathed. Mike apologizes for not answering sooner and asks what’s wrong. “Alex is in the hospital we’re heading to St. Joseph’s right now.” Mike hurried to his secretary, asked her to cancel his meeting, and told Rachael he was on his way.

Minutes later they all met in the hospital. Mike and Rachael hugged each other immediately after spotting each other. Rachael gave in to a small cry but Mike held her together saying that everything would be alright.

“What happened? I got a call saying Alex was in the hospital.” Kylie turned to the confused social worker and watched as she approached them. Her green eyes showed nothing but distress and confusion as she made her way towards Mike and Rachael. Rachael explained the call she had received to both Cassandra and Mike.

Kylie left them and went to find someone who could tell her where her girl is. A couple nurses were crowded in the corner gossiping about their patients while the receptionist was talking on the phone. As soon as the receptionist put the phone down, Kylie approached her. “I’m here to see Alexandria Santiago.” Kylie said looking for the others. She waved Mike over and the others followed. They all hurried to the desk and anxiously waited for the receptionist to tell them where Alex was.

“She’s on the second floor room, 221B.” As soon as the words left her mouth Kylie ran to the nearest staircase. The others lost her so they took the elevator.

Kylie ran up the stairs taking two at a time. She was on the second floor in no time but she still wasted no time and began her search for the room. “Whoa there!” said a doctor as he caught Kylie and spun her around. Kylie tried to free herself but it was useless the doctor was stronger than her. “Please I need to see her.” Kylie begged.

The doctor let her go and saw as tears were forming in Kylie’s eyes. “Who are you looking for?” He asked.

“Alexandria Santiago she was brought here-” Kylie began but stopped when the doctor lifted his eye brows and said, “karate kick girl.”

“No I’m looking for Alex she’s in room 234B on this floor.” Kylie tried to leave since the doctor was no help but he stopped her again as she took a step forward.

“That’s what we have been calling her. We didn’t know her name when she was brought in. Everyone around here has seen her karate kick that Kayla girl. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.” the doctor tried to do a karate kick but seemed ridiculous trying.

Kylie was so confused. Alex karate kicked a girl?

“She’s in there. The doctor will be with you in a few minutes.” The young doctor pointed to the door a few feet away and left chuckling shaking his head. Kylie walked slowly this time not knowing what to expect. She saw Alex through the room window and brought a hand to her mouth as she gasped. Alex lay before her bruised and unconscious. A dirty thought entered her mind next; Alex was naked under the hospital robe. This made her red as a tomato.

When seeing Alex stir, Kylie rushed to open the door forgetting everything. Alex screamed in pain and she tried to get up. Kylie walked up to her and held her in place. “Don’t move, or you’ll make it worst.” She said to the girl who only glared at her.

“What are you doing here?” Alex asked sucking in some air as she let her body fall back to the bed. Kylie frowned at the girl. “I came to see you, and not to be mean but you look awful.” Kylie laughed trying to lighten the mood.

“No shit.” Alex responded not laughing at her comment. Kylie got serious and asked her what exactly happened. Alex closed her eyes and lied not looking at Kylie. “I slipped and fell down the stairs.” Kylie raised an eyebrow at the girl.

“So you’re telling me you didn’t Karate kick a girl named Kayla?” Kylie asked her. Alex looked surprised but quickly changed her face into an innocent smile. “No I fell down 2 flights of stairs.” Kylie looked at the girl suspiciously. They looked into each others eyes until they were interrupted by Mike, Rachael, and Cassandra.

“Alexandria Santiago, I swear you’ll be the death of me one of these days.” Cassandra said making her way to Alex. Alex flinched and looked at Cassandra with a scared expression. Mike and Rachael stepped aside allowing the angry woman through not wanting to cause any trouble. ”I want to know what happened and I want the truth.” Her green eyes were fierce as she looked directly at Alex.

Both Kylie and Rachael looked at each other and nodded. Rachael grabbed Mikes arm and led him outside the room giving Cassandra and Alex some privacy. Kylie followed closing the door but not before seeing the pleading eyes of her girl begging not to be left alone. Kylie slowly closed the door until she could no longer see those torturous eyes.

Kylie sat next to Rachael who sat next to Mike in the waiting area impatiently waiting for Cassandra. The doctor had come by minutes ago and explained that Alex had a broken rib and another 2 were simply cracked. Alex would be in pain for 3-6 weeks depending on how fast her ribs heal, so she had to get plenty rest.

Half an hour later Cassandra came out the room and approached them. Kylie got up and asked Cassandra if she could go see Alex. Cassandra nodded her head. The Smith’s and Cassandra went to fill the necessary paperwork for Alex as Kylie left to see her injured angel.

“Come in.” Alex said as Kylie knocked on the door. Kylie slowly walked into the room not knowing what to say or do. She had so many questions for the girl.

Why did she fight those police officers?

Why did she get in trouble so many times at the detention center?

What exactly happened with that girl?

Where did she learn how to karate?

Does she love me?

“Kylie? Hello anyone in there?” Kylie shook her head and looked at Alex waving her hands trying to get Kylie’s attention. Kylie smiled and walked closer to the bed. She sat on the chair beside her and still had no idea what to say so she started with the basic, “How do you feel?”

“Like I have one broken rib and two cracked, and like I was hit with a concrete brick on the face multiple times.” Alex chuckles as she tries to sit up on the bed. The strong facade fails as Kylie sees the pain registered in her face when trying to move. Alex sucks in multiple swifts of air and lets them out as she lets her body fall onto the bed.

“I saw the video. When I came a doctor said that everyone had seen you karate kick a girl. I didn’t believe it, so when I saw him again I asked to see the video.” Alex’s expression changed in a heartbeat. Kylie couldn’t tell whether she was mad or frustrated. Kylie looked down and winced as she remembered how Kayla had punched and kicked her girl. She balled her fists and tried to control her anger. Kayla was so dead when Kylie could get a hold of her.

“What you’re not going to say anything?” Alex asked folding her arms across her chest. Kylie looks up to see the girl’s eyes. She’s not mad anymore. Kylie thought.

She took a deep breath and asked her one of her questions. “Why did you fight with those police officers?”

“Next question.” Alex said rapidly avoiding the the question.

“Why did you get in trouble so many times at the detention center? What exactly happened with that girl? Where did you learn how to karate? Do you love m-” Kylie’s eyebrows rose and her eyes got big. “Chocolate! I love me some chocolate! Chocolate cake, Chocolate bars, but not with nuts cause that just ruins the purpose of chocolate.” she didn’t know what to say so she was just rambling on and on about chocolate hoping and praying the girl didn’t hear what she had asked.

“yes I love chocolate.” Alex responds with a light chuckle. Kylie lets out a breath she did not know she was holding in relief.

~~~~~ Alex – The Truth Will Set You Free ~~~~~

When waking up, the pain was excruciating. The room is unfamiliar and it smells gross. Next thing I know someone is holding me down. On instinct I was about to punch my way free but her voice broke through everything even the pain.

“What are you doing here?” I ask her the same way she had asked me a week ago. I feel the pain every time I breathe so I take quick slow breaths and lay back on the bed. Kylie frowned at me witch reminded me of my exact reaction last week. “I came to see you, and not to be mean but you look awful.”

“No shit.” I say not really finding her comment funny at all. For one I just got my ass beat by a fricking giant. “I slipped and fell down the stairs.” I lie not really sure why I did.

“So you’re telling me you didn’t Karate kick a girl named Kayla?” She asks surprising the hell out of me. How did she know that? “No I fell down 2 flights of stairs.” I say sternly still not sure why I’m lying my butt off. Before anything else could be said the Smiths came in. I Smiled at them but it disappeared when I heard her voice, Case.

“Alexandria Santiago, I swear you’ll be the death of me one of these days.” Cassandra said making her way to me with her green eyes filled with rage. ”I want to know what happened and I want the truth.” Her green eyes were fierce as she looked directly at me ignoring the presence of the three other people in the room.

I turn to the door when I hear it closing and beg Kylie not to leave me with her. But of course Kylie finished closing the door and walked away. I reluctantly turned towards my livid case worker and smile. This causes her to get even madder at me. I quickly drop the smile and try to talk myself out of this.

“I.. um.. I-” Yep I got nothing. ‘Don’t blame you. That woman is scary as hell.’ you can say that again.

“First the principle, then the cops, and now this Kayla girl. What has gotten into you Alexandria? Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong so maybe just maybe I can help you. ”She paces the room when talking. I look at her in disbelief and real words start coming out of my lips this time.

“What’s the point Cassandra? We all know no one will believe me, not even you.” her face drops at my words. I lift my body trying to get a better spot on the bed but give up once I find none. “You send me to a detention center without a second thought! You didn’t even let me explain. All you did was listen to the damn man like everyone else!” Case flinches as my voice gets louder. I take a breath and let it out not caring about the pain it causes to do so.

“He said I tried to kill him for giving me a detention. You honestly didn’t see anything wrong with that? I thought you of all people would listen to me, but you didn’t. And when you came to the conclusion that something was off, it was too late.”

Tears fall down her face as she looks down to the floor ashamed. I keep quiet letting my words sink in. She wipes her checks and lifts her head to face me.

“I’m sorry. I was tired of hearing the calls saying I needed to find you another home. I failed you when you needed me the most. I’m sorry.” Case walks closer but I try to stop her by putting my hand up.

“Case I swear if you hug me, I’ll-” but it was too late, Case’s arms were already wrapped around me in a tight hug while she cried on my shoulder. The pain was minimal. I expected the pain to tear me apart like it’s been doing but I felt next to nothing.

“Case I didn’t do anything. The principle wanted me to hack the school system so I could give him information on some rich students so he could bribe them. When I refused so he got made and wanted to punch me, so I used the lace on his desk to stop him. The cops is a long story which I might tell you one day. And Kayla has hated me the moment I didn’t give her my apple. I tried not to hurt her. Honestly I did not want to hurt her, but she wouldn’t stop.” I pull her up explaining praying she believes me this time. A smile covers her features as she stares back at me.

“I know you didn’t mean to hurt her. And don’t worry she’s alright, although you did have her seeing stars after giving her that kick everyone has been talking about.” She smiles and laughs at me when I frown. Cassandra leaves the room before I can say anything back.

“Come in.” I say allowing the person who knocked in. “Kylie? Hello anyone in there?” I wave my hands like a fool in front of her trying to get her attention. Kylie came into the room slowly and sat down on the chair. A few seconds passed with pure silence.

“How do you feel?” She asks shaking her head. I look and her and tell her the truth. “Like I have one broken rib and two cracked ribs and like I was hit with a brick on the face multiple times.” I laugh at my comment knowing that it’s not funny since the broken rib hurts like a bitch. I sit up again but this time the pain appears. ‘Holy crap!’ I breath in slow fast breath as if I were in labor and try not to move.

“We saw the video. When I came a doctor said that everyone had seen you karate kick a girl. I didn’t believe it, so when I saw him again I asked to see the video.” There was no point in denying anything now. She saw it with her own eyes. It scares me that Kylie saw what I’m capable of doing. I was not mad at her but with myself for not finding another way out of the situation.

“What you’re not going to say anything?” I say crossing my arms giving up a lost fight. What scares me is what she might say to what she saw.

“Why did you fight with those police officers?” Kylie says looking at me directly in the eyes.

“Next question.” I say rapidly not wanting to tell her. How can I when I don’t even know why I went through all that trouble.

“Why did you get in trouble so many times at the detention center? What exactly happened with that girl? Where did you learn how to karate? Do you love m-” Kylie spoke fast but her eyes got wide as she stopped and blurted something completely random to me. “Chocolate! I love me some chocolate! Chocolate cake, Chocolate bars, but not with nuts cause that just ruins the purpose of chocolate.” I looked at her weirdly since I have no idea what to respond. What the heck does chocolate have to do with anything?

“Yes I love chocolate.” I say unsure if that’s the right answer. I mean I like chocolate but once again, what does that have to do with anything?

“Hey Alex, how you been?” We both looked at the door where the Smiths were standing. I smiled at them. It was nice to see them again.

“I’ve been better.” I say jokingly with a wide smile still plastered on my face. They laugh and approach me. Rachael hugs me and I hug her back missing her touch. I shake mikes hand when he stretches it but bring him in for a hug too.

“How have you guys been?” I ask once Mike and Rachael are back together standing beside Kylie.

“We’ve been good, missed you like crazy though. The house was quiet. And Mike missed your cooking.” Rachael received a glare from her husband and chuckled. “Ok I also missed your cooking.” She admits getting a smile from Mike in return.

“Wait a minute, you can cook?” Kylie ask raising her eyebrows skeptically. I chuckle and scratch the back of my neck.

“A little.” I tell her which causes Mike and Rachael to laugh.

“She makes a killer Honduran meal.” Mike says proudly.

We talk until a doctor comes in. “how you feeling Alexandria?” She asks looking over the clipboard in her hands. I smile at her. “Like I’m breathing through a very thin straw.” I say breathing rapidly trying to prove a point.

“Yeah that’s what broken ribs will do to you.” She says laughing at me. “The kicks you received-“ I stopped her already knowing what she’s going to say since I was the one who experienced it.

“Yeah I know. One kick cracked a true rib, number….” I touch my ribs checking which ones are hurt. “6 and the other kick cracked another true rib, lucky number 7, and the last kick which in my opinion was the worst, broke a false rib, number 8 which almost hit my costal cartilage by the way. That would’ve sucked.” I laugh at my own pain. “I have to rest for 3-6 weeks to allow the ribs to heal since you can’t do anything else other than prescribe pain killers. You can’t wrap me up because even though it would keep the ribs in place, I wouldn’t be able to take deep breaths increasing the chances ofpneumonia. But I heal fast so I’m not worried.”

All four of them look at me with their mouths open. I chuckle and sit back on the bed. “I’m sorry, please continue what you were going to say. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.” I tell her ashamed. She walks up to me and smiles warmly.

“You said everything I came to tell you. And that you need to stop coming to this hospital with broken bones.’ She laughs. “We would like to keep you in observation for a day to see if the broken rib causes internal bleeding.” I groan but understand.

I have to spend an entire day in a hospital with nothing to do but watch T.V. and sleep. ‘Why are you complaining?’ because I’m sick of resting.

~~~~~~~~~~

So i know you hate me for not uploading in a long long, long, long time, but hey I’m uploading now aren’t I? And I got no time for a life. Between school and job there is honestly no time for me to write or even see my girl 🙁 really pissed about that by the way.

Chapter dedication is because Abi_lodge gave Saved by a woman it’s 500th vote!!! I did a my happy dance at work. No kidding my co-workers were laughing at me but I didn’t care. I was happy as hell and still am. 

Anyway I wrote this chapter in napkins and typed it on my breaks at work so that meant I had to eat quickly if I wanted to get it done. Which I did thank you very muc

Ok now what I’m about to tell you is something that is going to put a smile on your pretty little face, and if you think you are ugly, slap yourself cause you are beautiful in my eyes, OK back to what I was saying/typing, there will finally be some Alex and Kylie action in the next chapter!! or is it Kylie and Alex? Decisions decisions…

yep you gotta love me!

Now all I need from you guys is to tell me who you want to make the first move cuz some of you say Kylie and some say Alex. So the one with the most votes win. And don’t aks for my opinion cuz I really don’t know 🙁

-Alba Arita :^)